Memory control apparatus for use in association with moving articles



April 6, 1965 Filed Nov. 13, 1962 A. E. WHITECAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 s 2DETEOTOICI H M, M2

H M3 H mscmu I i l l l l I l I i Q) u tl u F l G. I.

09 360 350 180 r BOX uo DH:

c4 0 s4 J 56 A cs P c1 0 s1 I INVENTOR.

F I G. 3. ALTEN E. WHITECAR BY MY M ATTORNEYS Aprll 6, 1965 A. E.WHITECAR 3,176,839

MEMORY CONTROL APPARATUS FOR USE IN ASSOCIATION WITH MOVING ARTICLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. lS, 1962 FIG. 2..

INVENTOR. ALTEN E. WHITECAR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2* ,i76,833MEMORY (IONTRUL AFPARATUS FUR USE IN ASSUCIATHGN WITH MUVING ARTICLESAlten E. Whitecar, Westviile, Ni, assignor to Smith Kline dz FrenchLaboratories, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of hennsyivania Filed Nov.13, 1962, Ser. No. 237,168 1 Claim. (El. ltl -Jd) This invention relatesto memory control apparatus which is of particular utility inassociation with article moving means.

In various manufacturing procedures, it is frequently desired to detectthe condition or characteristic of articles being conveyed in successionat one point and to eiiect an operation responsive to the detectedcondition or characteristic at a later time at a point remote from thepoint of detection. A simple illustration is where a conveyor isemployed in a packaging line and it is desired, for example, to detectany package which has not been filled for the purpose of removing theimproperly filled package from the conveyor. Frequently due to thecrowding of mechanism at the detecting station, it is desirable toremove the unfilled package at a point remote from the detectionstation. Another typical example is where a plurality of conveyors aremoving a number of parts to a point of assembly, for example, a boxbottom, a box top and an item which is to be placed within the box. Itthe item to be boxed is missing at one point on the conveyor conveyingthese items, it is desirable to have means to remove the box bottom andbox top at the corresponding positions on the other conveyor in orderthat an emptybox will not be shipped out. Here again, it is frequentlynot possible to cause the removal of the box bottom and top at themoment of detection of the absence of the item to be packaged, butrather it is necessary to detect first and then at a subsequent latertime eject the box bottom and top. The memory system of this inventionhas as its primary object the solution of such problems and similarproblems, particularly where the period of time between detection andthe subsequent operation is greater than the period that it takes theconveying system to convey the articles the distance at which thearticles are spaced.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple inexpensiveelectro-mechanical memory apparatus which can readily be designed tosolve problems of the type indicated above.

The apparatus of the invention comprises a detector associated withmeans effecting movement of articles in succession which initiates theoperation of a series of memory units which at the end of a period oftime longer than the time it takes the articles to move adistance equalto the distance between the uniformly spaced articles initiates theoperation of a device at a remote position.

The invention and its objects will be further clarified by the readingof the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of a specific memory system which can beemployed in the invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a lay-out of the cams employed in the device of FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a conveyor 2 having equally spaced conveyor slats4 conveys with approximately uniform spacing a series of box bottoms 6towards an assembly station (not shown). A detector 8 detects whether ornot the items to be packaged in box bottoms 6 have been placed withinthe box bottoms. Where the item to be packaged has not been so placed,the detector initiates the operation of a memory unit indicated atMl.After a "ice predetermined interval memory unit Mil initiates theoperation of memory unit indicated at M2 and becomes free for responseto another signal from the detector 8. The cycle of operation of M1occurs in. a period of time which is less than the time required for theconveyor to move the article a distance equal to the spacing betweenthem. M2, after a predetermined period of time, initiates the operationof the memory device indicated at M3 and trees itself for response toanother initiating signal from memory device M1. Similarly, memorydevice M3 after a predetermined period of time initiates the operationof a discard device indicated at 10 and then frees itself for responseto another initiating signal from memory device M2. Discard device it)acts to remove the box bottom 6 which was detected as being empty fromconveyor 2 and which has been conveyed to a position opposite discarddevice 10.

By way of further illustration, a conveyor 12 identical to conveyor 2having slats 14 which engage and advance box tops 16 is operated insynchronism. with conveyor 2. The operation of discard device 19 alsoacts to remove the box top 16 which was carried on conveyor 12 in aposition so as to be assembled with the box bottom 6 which was detectedas being empty. Thus when one of the three items to be assembled i.e.,the item to be packagedwas detected as being missing the other twoitems, i.e., the box bottom 6 and the corresponding box top 16 wereremoved irom their respective conveyors.

It will be appreciated that any of the well known detectors suitable fordetecting the condition or characteristic to be detected can beemployed. Illustrative are a feeler controlled switch, a weighing devicecontrolled switch, a photo-electric cell and a pneumatic controlledfeeler. Similarly, a wide variety of memory units which are electronicor electro-mechanical can be employed.

The novel memory unit of this invention shown in H6- URES 2 and 3 isadvantageous for many applications due to the fact that it is relativelyinexpensive and easy to design and modify. As shown in FIGURE 2, aconveyor 22 is conveying cardboard boxes 24 having hinged lids 26, amicro-switch S1 has an operating lever 28 which detects a box 24 whoselid 26 has not been properly closed. Switch S1 is connected to powerline 30 by a line 32 and is connected to one side of relay 34- by a line35. The other side of relay 34 is connected to power line 36 by a line38. Normally open switch 49 of relay 34 is in holding circuit line :2which is connected to line 35 and power line 30 and contains normallyclosed switch S2.

Switch S2 has an insulated cam follower 44 which is adapted to beengaged by a cam 46 mounted to rotate with a shaft 48. Shaft 48 isdriven by conveyor 22 by means not shown and rotates 360 during theperiod that conveyor 22 moves a distance equal to the distance betweenboxes 24. Conveyor 22 is continuously moving but can also be movedintermittently.

A line 50 connects line 42 to one side of relay 52, the other side ofwhich is connected to line 36 by line 54. Normally open switch 53 has aninsulated cam follower 51 which engages a cam C3 which rotates withshaft 43. Switch 56 of relay 52 which is normally open is in a holdingcircuit line 58 connecting line 50 to power line 3%. Normally closedswitch S4 in line 58 has an insulated cam follower 6% which is adaptedto be engaged by cam C4 secured to shaft 48. A line 62 connects line 58to one side of a relay 64 and contains a normally open switch S5 whichhas an insulated cam follower engaging cam C5 secured to shaft 48. Relay64 is connected to power line 36 by line 67. Switch 63 of relay 64 is ina holding circuit line 70 which connects line 62 to power line 353.Switch S6 in line 70 which is normally closed has an insulated camfollower '72 adapted to be engaged by cam C6 which is secured to shaft48. A line 76 connects line '70 to one side of a solenoid 80, the otherside of which is connected to power line 36 through a line 82. Anormally open switch S7 in line 76 has an insulated cam follower'78adapted to be engaged by cam C7 which is secured to shaft 48.

The operation of the apparatus of FIGURE 2 will be clear from the abovedescription taken together with the lay-out of the cams C1-C7 shown inFIGURE 3, no attempt having been made in FIGURE 2 to show the shapes ofthese cams. The zero position of the cam corresponds to the position ofconveyor 22 where an open lid 26 of box 24 would engage arm 28, the lid26 in effect acting as the cam operating on switch S1. Box lid 26 inFIGURE 3 is depicted as the cam C1 operating switch S1.

in operation, a box 24 having an open lid 26 would act through theengagement of lid 26 with arm 23 to energize switch S1 and in turnthrough line 35 toenergize relay 34. On being energized, relay 34 closesswitch itiof holding circuit 12, switch S2 being in the closed position.Cam C2 momentarily opens switch S2 to deenergize relay 34 if switch S1is open. As lid as moves past switch S1, this switch opens.

During each 360 rotation of shaft 48, the following occurs. 'After about205 of rotation cam C7 closes switch S7 to energize solenoid 84) if line76 is energized. Cam C6 momentarily opens switch S6 during the time thatswitch S5 is closed. After about 250 of rotation, cam C5 closes switchS5 to energize relay 64 if line 62 is energized. While switch S3 isclosed, cam C4 momentarily opens switch S4. After about 315 of rotation,

cam C3 closes switch S3 which through line 5% results in energizingrelay 52 if line 50 is energized.

As shown in the cam lay-out of FIGURE 3, switches S1, S3, S5, and S7 areeach closed at a diiferent period of time.

From the above description of operation, it will be apparent thatassuming that switch S1 is energized by a box lid 26, relay 34 will beenergized to close switch it! in holding circuit 59. After 315 ofrotation cam C3 closes switch S3 to energize relay 52.

During the second 360 of rotation assuming S1 to be open, carn C2 willopen switch S2 to deenergize relay 34. After about 250 of rotation, camC5 will close switch S5 to cause energizing of relay 64 and the closingof switch as in holding circuit 70. While switch S5 is closed, cam C6opens and closes switch S6 in holding circuit 7i which has no effectsince line 62 was energized. Shortly thereafter switch S5 is permittedto open again and cam C4 will open switch S4 to deenergize relay 52 ifline 55% is deenergized as it is in the illustrative case. During thethird 360 of rotation after about 205 of rotation, cam C7 will closeswitch S7 to energize solenoid 80 which will move the box 24 detectedwith an open lid oil conveyor 22. Next, cam C6 opens switch S6 todeenergize relay dd-if line 62 is deenergized.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the number ofmemory units will be picked depending upon the time that is desiredbetween detection and operation. In the above illustration, the solenoidwould operate after shaft has been turned about 925 and hence would bepositioned a distance al0n the conveyor line from switch 51 equal to thedistance the conveyor would travel during the 925 rotation of shaft48.Any number of memory units can be employed in order to have the properdistance between the point of detection and the point of operation. Eachmemory unit can provide for a delay of something less than 360 ofrotation of shaft 43. If a series of improperly open lids is detected,the relays of the memory units will all remain energized causing each ofthe detected boxes to be moved off the conveyor. 7

The above described embodiment is advantageous in that changes in speedor stopping of the conveyor do not affect the operation of the memoryunits.

it will be understood that the above described embodiments areillustrative and are not intended to be limiting.

What is claimed is:

A memory control apparatus for use in association with moving articlesin combination with means effecting movement of anticles in successionalong a predetermined path I with approximately uniform spacing between'them'comprising; a series of signal receiving and transmitting meanseach being made operable to transmit a signal on receipt of a signal,said series of signal receiving and transmitting means comprisingcircuit means including a plurality of relays each having a coil and aswitch, the coils of the relays being connected in parallel, and theswitch of each relay being in series with .the coil of the next adjacentrelay, a switch in the circuit between each said first mentioned switchand the said coil, a holding circuit for each relay, and a switch ineach holding circuit, means located at one position along said path fortransmitting a signal to the first in series of said signal receivingand transmit- "ting. means on detection of an article having apredetermined characteristic, rotatable cam means to operate the lasttwo mentioned switches to provide for the successive energizing anddeener-gizing of the relays to successively operate at predeterminedintervals the signal receiving and transmitting means to provide for anearlier one initiating the operation of a later one by the transmissionof a si nal from an earlier one to a later one and to free the earlierone for the receipt of a new signal, means for rejecting an articlelocated at another later station along said Reterences Cited by theExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,873,315 8/32 Dreyer 209 3,009,109 11/61lankowski 2i)990 XR 3,032,191 5/62 Clukey 20975 7 ERNEST A. FALLER,Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. REEVES, Examiner.

